Compare towns

Lyme vs Hampton vs Thetford vs Newfields

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureLymeHamptonThetfordNewfields
People
Population
1,710Lowest
16,426Highest
2,813
2,023
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.6±7.8
25% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
43.6±6.2Lowest
12% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.5%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.5%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±4.5
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$133,906±$15k
66% above U.S.
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$88,045±$16kLowest
9% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$645,000±$64k
94% above U.S.
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$329,500±$96kLowest
about the U.S. average
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,418±$130
about the U.S. average
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,141±$96Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
Newfields and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,813Lowest
118% above U.S.
$6,948
123% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±29.8
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±30.1
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 min
14% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #31 of 120 in NH #40 of 70 in VT —
School district Lyme School District Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Thetford School District Newfields School District
High school in town None in town Winnacunnet High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.